John Lennon Songwriting Contest

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest,, named for the former member of The Beatles, is an international contest for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. A professional recording is not needed, as songs are not judged based on performance, but on originality, melody, composition, and lyrics (if applicable). Entries may be submitted in any one of 12 categories:
* Children's
* Country
* Electronic
* Folk
* Gospel
* Hip-Hop
* Jazz
* Latin
* Pop
* R&B
* Rock
* World

Songwriting contests such as the John Lennon contest have been called "career boost." [cite web|url=http://www.socan.ca/jsp/en/news_events/feature_stories/Songwriting_Contest_1.jsp|title=What's Right For Music, "an increasingly popular career boost"..."] Winners of the contest receive project studio equipment from Roland/Edirol, Audio-Technica, Godin Guitars, Propellerhead, Ableton and Sibelius, 1,000 CDs in full color with premium 4-panel Digipaks courtesy of Disc Makers, and gift certificates from MusiciansFriend.com. Additional prizes are awarded at different stages of the contest and include Mackie, Ampeg, and Crate Products. The overall winner of this contest receives extra prizes including $20,000 for the "Song of the Year," sponsored by Maxell, as well as an Apple Mac Pro, Cinema Display, a Mackie Mixer, a Pair of Mackie Studio Monitors, and Logic Pro Software. [cite web|url=http://www.jlsc.com/prizes.php|title=Awards and Prizes]

Th contest was created by Brian Rothschild, a former songwriter and keyboard player for the band I Am Siam, and David Sonenberg, whose company manages acts that include Fergie, the Black Eyed Peas and John Legend; they joined with Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, to create the contest in 1997. They also outfitted The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, a non-profit 501(c)(3) mobile audio and HD video recording and production facility, that provides free hands-on programs to hundreds of high schools, colleges, Boys and Girls Clubs, music festivals, concerts, conventions and community organizations throughout the country.

References

External links

* [http://www.jlsc.com/ John Lennon Songwriting Contest official website]
* [http://www.lennonbus.org/ John Lennon Educational Tour Bus official website]
* [http://cdbaby.com/flavor/johnlennon CDBaby, "John Lennon Songwriting Contest" - "Finalists and winners of this contest"]
* [http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=533 Country Standard Time, "Uncle Earl, band member win John Lennon songwriting contest", Tuesday, April 17, 2007]